Actor George Takei has released an apology after his recent comments to Howard Stern about grabbing men's genitals.In a statement, Takei says he made a “distasteful” joke, adding that he has never forced himself on someone. “For decades, I have played the part of a “naughty gay grandpa” when I visit Howard’s show, a caricature I now regret,” Takei said on Facebook. ”But I want to be clear: I have never forced myself upon someone during a date.”Last Saturday, an audio clip surfaced from Takei’s appearance on Stern’s radio show last month. The interview was recorded less than two weeks after sexual assault accusations against fallen film mogul Harvey Weinstein were made public. Stern and Takei were discussing the “irony” of the Weinstein case and the audiotape of President Donald Trump boasting about grabbing women’s genitals years ago, when Stern asked Takei whether he had ever grabbed a man’s genitals against his will.Takei, initially was silent, then said “uh oh” and laughed. Stern asked again and Takei said, “Some people are kind of skittish, or maybe, um, uh, afraid, and you’re trying to persuade.”Stern and his co-host, Robin Quivers, persisted, asking Takei whether he ever held a job over somebody for sex and he said no.Quivers asked if he did “this grabbing at work.” Takei said, “It was either in my home. They came to my home.”Earlier this week, Takei denied allegations he groped a male model in the 1980’s. The 80-year-old “Star Trek” icon, said in a series of tweets that events described by Scott R. Brunton in The Hollywood Reporter “simply did not occur,” and he does not remember ever knowing Brunton.“Right now it is a he said/he said situation, over alleged events nearly 40 years ago. But those that know me understand that non-consensual acts are so antithetical to my values and my practices, the very idea that someone would accuse me of this is quite personally painful,” Takei tweeted.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Actor George Takei has released an apology after his recent comments to Howard Stern about grabbing men's genitals.

In a statement, Takei says he made a “distasteful” joke, adding that he has never forced himself on someone.

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“For decades, I have played the part of a “naughty gay grandpa” when I visit Howard’s show, a caricature I now regret,” Takei said on Facebook. ”But I want to be clear: I have never forced myself upon someone during a date.”

Last Saturday, an audio clip surfaced from Takei’s appearance on Stern’s radio show last month. The interview was recorded less than two weeks after sexual assault accusations against fallen film mogul Harvey Weinstein were made public. Stern and Takei were discussing the “irony” of the Weinstein case and the audiotape of President Donald Trump boasting about grabbing women’s genitals years ago, when Stern asked Takei whether he had ever grabbed a man’s genitals against his will.

Takei, initially was silent, then said “uh oh” and laughed. Stern asked again and Takei said, “Some people are kind of skittish, or maybe, um, uh, afraid, and you’re trying to persuade.”

Stern and his co-host, Robin Quivers, persisted, asking Takei whether he ever held a job over somebody for sex and he said no.

Quivers asked if he did “this grabbing at work.” Takei said, “It was either in my home. They came to my home.”

Earlier this week, Takei denied allegations he groped a male model in the 1980’s. The 80-year-old “Star Trek” icon, said in a series of tweets that events described by Scott R. Brunton in The Hollywood Reporter “simply did not occur,” and he does not remember ever knowing Brunton.

“Right now it is a he said/he said situation, over alleged events nearly 40 years ago. But those that know me understand that non-consensual acts are so antithetical to my values and my practices, the very idea that someone would accuse me of this is quite personally painful,” Takei tweeted.